City approves audit contract for service yard

Summary#

Montréal city council approved a contract with Les Services EXP inc. to audit the design and construction of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough’s service yard. The contract runs for three years, with an option to extend it by 12 months, and has a total authorized cost of $1,386,606.55, taxes included.

  • EXP will check project documents against requirements, visit the construction site, and provide site-control and construction-contract support to the city.
  • The contract was awarded through a public call for tenders with three bids. One was non-compliant; EXP received the highest final score among the two bids evaluated.
  • Council also authorized $126,055.14, taxes included, for contingencies and required the city to evaluate EXP’s performance.

What it means for you#

  • Residents and taxpayers: The city’s central administration will pay the full cost. This decision does not directly change a service, rule, or benefit for residents.
  • The city and EXP: EXP will audit the design and construction work but will not take part in designing the project.

Money#

The authorized total is $1,386,606.55, taxes included.

  • This includes a contract amount of $1,260,551.41 and $126,055.14 for contingencies.
  • The city will cover 100% of the expense. The planned spending is 60% in 2026, 25% in 2027, 10% in 2028, and 5% in 2029.

What is unclear#

  • The decision summary does not set out the audit’s detailed reporting process or explain how the city will use its findings.
  • The contract includes an option to extend by 12 months; the materials do not say whether the city will use it.

Case for#

  • City staff say the audit is intended to help control the quality of the project by checking documents and work, and supporting the city’s management of the construction contract.
  • EXP’s bid was 14.88% below the city’s latest estimate, according to the decision summary.

Case against#

  • Only two bids were evaluated for price and scored; the third was rejected as non-compliant for an administrative technicality. That leaves a limited comparison of evaluated bids.
  • The materials do not explain what action the city must take if the audit identifies problems.